Home ground
Neftçi Arena
Baku
10,289Capacity
Neftçi v Arsenal Tula, August 2019
Baku · Azerbaijan
NeftçİPeşəkar Futbol Klubu
Neftçİlər · “The Oilmen” · Flaqman · “The Flagship”
- Oldest major club
- Champions ×9
Neftçi play at Neftçi Arena, capacity 10,289, are coached by Yuriy Vernydub and stand 1st in the 2026/27 Misli Premyer Liqası on 15 points from 6 matches. Founded in 1937 in Baku. 24 registered players.
Updated
2026/27 season
MİSLİ PREMYER LİQASILeague position
1st
Played 6
Points
15
- 5 won
- 0 drawn
- 1 lost
Registered players
24
for 2026/27
Ground capacity
10,289
Seats
Recent form
- Won
- Lost
- Won
- Won
- Won
Most recent last
Head coach
Yuriy Vernydub
Management
CEO Cenk Sümer
Squad
24
Registered players, 2026/27
Club colours
Black & white
“black gold” (oil) and “white gold” (cotton)
Last season2025/26
4th of 12
59 points
Honours
9League titles
6Azerbaijan Cups
2Supercups
League: 1992, 1995-96, 1996-97, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2020-21
Cup: 1994-95, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04, 2012-13, 2013-14
Squad 2026/27 — 24 players
Goalkeepers 2
Defenders 7
Midfielders 12
6
Sessi DalmeydaFrance · 30
7
Emil SəfərovAzerbaijan · 23
8
Emin MahmudovAzerbaijan · 34
10
Freddi VarqasVenesuela · 27
11
Alen ŞkribekHungary · 25
18
İfeanyi MetyuNigeria · 29
20
Qustavo KlismanBrazil · 26
22
Denzel JubitanaBelgium · 27
27
Draqolyub SaviçSerbia · 25
29
Lyubomir TuptaSlovakia · 28
33
Breno AlmeydaBrazil · 28
88
Viçko ŞevelCroatia · 26
Forwards 3
Squad taken from the Professional Football League's registration list for this club. Shirt numbers can change during a transfer window.
History
Founded on 18 March 1937 as Neftyanik — literally the oil workers' team, created by the USSR Ministry of the Oil Industry for the men working Baku's fields. It became Neftçi in 1968. Its black-and-white colours encode the two commodities that built the Azerbaijani SSR: black gold for oil, white gold for cotton. Nearly ninety years on, SOCAR's sponsorship keeps the same thread running. Neftçi spent 27 seasons in the Soviet Top League and finished third in 1966 — the best result any Azerbaijani club ever achieved in Soviet football, sealed by beating Spartak Moscow 3-0 on the final day. They were also independent Azerbaijan's first champions, in 1992.
In Europe
23 UEFA seasons, 82 matches. In 2012-13 Neftçi became the first Azerbaijani club to reach a European group stage, eliminating APOEL 4-2 on aggregate and then drawing twice with Partizan and playing at Inter's San Siro. In 2026/27 they lost the Conference League second-round first leg 4-2 at home to Dinamo Minsk on 22 July, Emin Mahmudov scoring inside two minutes.
Stories & legends
Anatoliy Banishevskiy
A one-club man from 1963 to 1978, 136 goals in the Soviet Top League, 51 caps and 20 goals for the USSR, and a starter at the 1966 World Cup where the Soviets finished fourth — still the best World Cup run by any Soviet or post-Soviet side. Named Azerbaijan's UEFA Golden Player in 2003.
Literally the oil workers' team
Founded by the Soviet oil ministry as a factory side. The colours are not decorative: black for oil, white for cotton.
The Flagship and its derbies
The historic rivalry is with Kəpəz of Ganja — 62 meetings since independence, Neftçi 27, Kəpəz 24 — but the Neftçi–Qarabağ fixture is now the league's defining match.
Fixtures & results
Next
Sabah
Turan Tovuz
Kəpəz
Recent
Şəfa
Transfers
Vincent AboubakarStriker · Cameroon
Contract end
To Free agent · 26 May 2026
Rüfat AbbasovLeft-back · Azerbaijan
3-yr deal
Joined Neftçifrom Şamaxı · 27 May 2026
Leading scorers
1
Breno Almeida
Brazil
6Goals
Neftçİ news
Turan Tovuz host Zirə as Sabah face İmişli in league
The Misli Premyer Liqasi continues with Turan Tovuz taking on Zirə and defending champions Sabah playing İmişli in round six matches.
Qəbələ beaten 3-0 at home by Neftçi
Neftçi secured a 3-0 away win against Qəbələ in the league, with goals from Breno Almeida, Adeleke Akinyemi, and Lubomir Tupta.
Vernidub discusses Neftçi's win and upcoming Sabah clash
Neftçi head coach Yuri Vernidub reflected on his side's 3-0 victory in Qəbələ and looked ahead to their upcoming Misli Premyer Liqasi match against…
Neftçi mark 1000th league game with win at Qəbələ
Neftçi celebrated their milestone 1000th match in national league history with a comfortable 3-0 victory away against Qəbələ in the Misli Premyer…
Neftçi forward Denzel Jubitana receives Suriname call-up
Neftçi attacker Denzel Jubitana has been called up to the Suriname national team for upcoming CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Honduras…
Elvin Jamalov discusses potential Qəbələ return
Midfielder Elvin Jamalov has reflected on his time at Neftçi and stated that a return to Qəbələ would be about bringing valuable experience to the…
Official channels
Currently branded Palms Sports Arena; big fixtures at Tofiq Bahramov (31,200)
Frequently asked
Where does Neftçi play?
Neftçi play at Neftçi Arena in Baku, capacity 10,289. Currently branded Palms Sports Arena; big fixtures at Tofiq Bahramov (31,200)
Who is the Neftçi head coach?
Yuriy Vernydub.
When were Neftçi founded?
Neftçi were founded in 1937 in Baku.
What has Neftçi won?
League titles: 1992, 1995-96, 1996-97, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2020-21. Azerbaijan Cup: 1994-95, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04, 2012-13, 2013-14.